Two former Florida Gators named among all-time Rivals 5-stars

When it comes to modern college football legends, few names resonate like former Florida Gators, Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin. The former Florida stars helped define an era in Gainesville, and now they’ve earned more national recognition. In Rivals’ recent ranking of the top 5-star recruits since 2000, both Harvin and Tebow landed on the list, reaffirming their status as two of the most impactful prospects in the recruiting era. Here’s a closer look at where the Gator greats landed and why they still stand out nearly two decades later.

Florida Gators WR Percy Harvin – 2006

High School: Landstown (Va.)
Rivals HS Ranking: No. 1 NATL.
NFL Draft Selection: No. 22 (2009)

Harvin was the first former Gators star on the list. He’s ranked as the No. 27 former Rivals five-star prospect since 2000.

Harvin saw action in 36 games with 26 starts in three seasons. He owns the record for most career yards rushing by a Florida wide receiver (1,852). Harvin also has the most rushing yards in a single season by a UF receiver (858 yards in 2007). He’s the only player in Florida history to have 100 yards rushing and receiving in a game. Had 32 touchdowns (19 rushing, 13 receiving) in three seasons.

“The definition of a do-it-all high school superstar,” wrote Rivals. “Harvin was unstoppable thanks to blistering speed and a skillset that set him apart from most blue-chippers in the 2006 cycle. Florida State did its best to land the five-star, but Harvin chose Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators — a decision that certainly panned out. Winning a pair of national championships in Gainesville, the elusive dual-threat weapon had over 1,800 rushing yards and 1,900 receiving yards, stamping his name in the UF record books. The two-time All-American became the 2009 Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Minnesota Vikings and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2014. Injuries plagued a good portion of his eight-year NFL career, limiting him to 75 games.”

Florida Gators QB Tim Tebow – 2006

High School: Nease (Fla.)
Rivals HS Ranking: No. 22 NATL.
NFL Draft Selection: No. 25 (2010)

Tebow was No. 4 on the Rivals list of former top five-star recruits since 2000. He’s easily one of the most iconic Florida Gators of all-time.

Tebow is the only sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy, the Sullivan Award, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Maxwell Award. Was the first player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season. In his Florida Gators career, Tebow threw 9285 yards and three 88 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. He also accounted for 2947 rushing yards with 57 touchdowns on the ground.

“Considered by many to be the greatest college quarterback of all-time,” said Rivals. “Tebow came into Florida with high expectations after leading previously downtrodden Nease High to a state title. As a senior, he was named an All-American and Florida’s Mr. Football before signing with the Gators. After playing sparingly as a backup as a freshman in 2006, he won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and led the Gators to back-to-back national titles that season and again in 2008. Over the course of his career, he racked up nearly every major individual award for both quarterbacks and players in general. His NFL projectability was considered a major question despite all of that, and he was ultimately taken No. 25 overall by the Denver Broncos. During his second season, he led the Broncos to the playoffs and a memorable win in the Wild Card Round over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was traded to the New York Jets in 2012 and only started two more games before retiring from football officially in 2021 after a six-year hiatus from the sport.”